Improvement in machines for cutting files



UNITED STATES PATENT OEErCE.

JAMES JERVIS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUT'TING FILES.

Spccilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,633, dated October 1l, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES JERVTS, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Cutting Files; and I hereby declare that the following specification contains a full,clear, and exact description ofthe saine and of the operation thereof'.

There have been many attempts, more or less successful, to cut tiles by machinery. Where tiles are eut by hand, the skill ot' the workman regulates the force of the blow ot the chisel according to the width of the surface, while the bed on which the file rests is easily adjusted, so as to aiiord a tirm and equal resistance to the successive strokes otl the hammer. v

Files generally are either dat, round, halt'- round, or triangular, and have a taperboth in their breadth and thickness. Whatever the width of the Iile the depth of each cut must be the saine; and where files are cnt by niachinery theintelligence of the workman, which secures this uniformity where tiles are cut by hand, must be supplied by mechanical contrivances, and the great merit of my invention consists in the mode by which I make the form ot' the iile itself regulate the force of the blow with unerring accuracy, while at the saine time the solidity ofthe tile for each successive stroke is secured. However complicated the machinery may be there are but two results to be produced by it. The first is the steadiness of the 'tile when the cutis made, and the second the forceot' the blow upon it to make the cut.

I shall pursue the natural division in niy description and describe, first, the anvil and its appurtenances; and, second, the machinery giving and regulating the eut.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l l and 3 are side views ot' the opposite sides of the machine. Fig. 2 is an end view looking toward the cutter. Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 5 a section, of the machine.

The saine letters indicate the saine parts in all the figures.

The aneth- The anvil consists of three principal parts, the base, the rest, the anvil proper.

The base a. a, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 5, is a cylinder of adequate strength hollowed and open on one side to admit the gearing through which motion is communicated to the anvil proper. This gearing is shown in Fig. 5.

The rest B, Figs. l, 2,3, 4, and 5, is a quadrangular frame revolving horizontally and concentrically on the base a a, which supports it, and is provided with two projecting disks, b b, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, with slots b b b, Fig. 4, forming arcs of circles, which receive bolts ce, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4, attached to the base, and the tightening ot' which fixes the res in any required position. These slots guide the rest in its horizontal revolution, and their length determines its extent. The rest can ries two shafts, '1 and S, Figs. 2 and 5, upon the upper ot' which is an endless screw, which gives motion, as presently described, to the anvil proper.

The anvil proper, O, Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 5, is ot' a saddle shape in section, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to admit under it the shafts T and S, and is connected with tlie rest at the slides d d, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4 on the sides thereof, after the manner otI a dovetail, as shown at Fig. 2. Set screws e e, Figs. l and 2, furnish the means of adjusting the anvil proper on the slides ot' the rest.

As the tile is being cut it is necessary that it should advance thc width ot' the space between the teeth between each successive cut. This is eiiected through the endless screw above mentioned. Above and below this, and pivoted at g', Fig. 2,011 one side of the anvil proper, are two clasps, f j", Fig. 2, one above and one below, each having cut on it a corresponding portion of a female screw. These clasps are kept apart and free from contact with the male screw when not in use by the spring h', Fig. 2,but capable of being clasped on the male screw by the catch r, Fig. 2, pivoted on the lower clasp at i, Fig. 2. When the clasps are clasped on the male screw, they move as it turns, carrying theanvil proper With them until the catch r, Figs. 2 and 3,

-colnes in contact with and is thrown back by the hook q, Fig. 3, attached by the set-screwq, Fig. 3, to the arm s, which is fastened to the base at s', Fig. 3. rlhe clasps are then thrown apart by the spring h', Fig. 2, and the motion of 'the anvil proper ceases.

Having thus described the anvil, I will now describe the manner in which the blank or shape which is to be made a file is fastened to it. i

On the top and lengthwise of the anvil is a groove with a semicircular section, into which fits a bedpiece, u,Figs. l, 3, and 5, projecting beyond the anvil proper, and confined in its place by pins l l', Fig. 5, titting in circular grooves in the ends of the anvil proper, allowing the bedpicce a slight rotation at right angles to'y its length. On this bed-piece u rests the il'e mit Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, upon a thin sheet of'iead, confined at each end by catches u and x, Figs. 1, 3, andv5, which are kept in place by springs c and d, Figs. l, 3, and 5, the pressure of c being regu lated by the set-screw u upon the end of the bed-piece. The spring t operates upon a bent lever, V, Fig. 3, pivoted at one end of the'bedpiece, as shown in Fig. 3, at one end of which lever is the hook o', passing. over the pin 02 on the catch W, which catch, when relieved from the hook o by pressing forward the knob p', Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, maybe slid back on the slot shown at q', Figs. l, 3, and 5, so as to permit the introduction of the tang ot' the tile, when the catch W is pushed forward and the hook o', being brought upon the pin 02, the shape is confined ou the bed-piece by the catches W and X. The pressure ofthe spring c should be so regulated by the set-screw n that the shape should touch the bed-piece about the center ofthe former at m.

Having thus shown how the shape is fixed upon the anvil, how it has a rotation Verti cally, and a lateral rotation, to regulate the angle of the teeth with the axis ofthe tile, I will now describe howrthe cut is given, so that it shall be of the same depth whatever the breadth ofthe tile at the time.

To support the chisel and appurtenances, I construct a frame, R R It, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, as shown in the drawings, firmly attached to the foundation A, and connected with the base of the anvil, so as to form acoinpact whole. Across this frame a principal or main shaft, I, Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 5, receives the moving power at the pulleys r r', Fig. 4, on one end, while the other end carries a balancewh e K, Figs. i, 2, 3, and 4. On the balance-wheel side of the shaft I is an eccentric, l', Fig. 3, whose rod l2 connects with a leverbeam, p, pivoted at p2, whose opposite end.p3, carries a pawl, p4, which, pressed down by the spring p, catches upon a ratchet-wheel, p5, which is attached to the shaft I), Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, which carries a beveled spur-wheel, I", which engages the pinion-wheel l2 on the shaft Q, Fig. 5, whose opposite end carries a beveled wheel, If, Fig. 5, which engages the beveled wheel I4 in the base of the anvil,-

which in its turn engages the beveled wheel P5 on the shaft S, at whose extremityv is the spur-wheel 1.), which engages the pinionwheel P7 011 the shaft T, on which yis the indless screw, which in this way receives its motion from the mainor driving shaft of the machine, thespace between the teeth being determined by the size of the teeth on the ratchet-wheel. To Vary this space, the ratchet- Wheel must be changed to insure accuracy in the action of the pawl p4 on the ratchetwheel P5. I employacheck-pawl and spring, (shown at Pi and p8, Fig. 3.) The chisel shaft G, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, is supported on the frame in suitable boxes and carries the chisel-beam F, at the. other end of which the chisel-bar E, Fig. 5, is connected by the rods E3 at E', Figs. 1,2, 3, .4, and 5. The chisel itself, e, is inserted in the lower end of the chisel bar and retained by the set-screw E2.

To steady the chisel and give direction, accuracy, and firmness to its cut, it passes through the guide-block D, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which is supported by the arms D', Figs. l, 2, 3, and' 4, moving in the vertical slots D2, Figs. 1 and 3, and permitting it to be raised or lowered, as required by the thickness of the shape. The arms are confined in their required position in tue slots by suitable setscrews.

Tile blow of the chisel proceeds from the main spring M, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, one end of which rests on the chisei'beam and the other is confined by the sctscrew L, Figs. 1 and 5, on the shaft L, supported on the frame at L2, Figs. 2 and 4.

To regulate the pressure of the spring on the chisel-beam, strong arms, L', Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, project from the shaft L toward the anvil. 'lhese connect willi therod N, whose opposite end is attached to'a shaft, O, Figs. 1 and 5. On the rod N is a swivel screw for lengthening or shortening it, so as to increase or diminish the pressure ot' the spring on the chisel-beam, as shown in the drawings.

-To make the main spring effective to produce the out, I use a tapering cam, H, Figs, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, sliding to and fro on the main shaft I, but which is kept in its normal position at one end of the shaft by the spring l, Fig. 4. The shape of this cam is shown in the drawings at H I, Fig. 5, where the projection a. on the lower side of the chisel-beam is represented on the point of the cam at the in.- stant when the latter, moving in the direction of the arrow, releases the beam', which is forced down suddenly by the main spring M causing the chisel to make its cut.

To throw the chisel out of gear, I use a cam, i, on a shaft, X', Figs. 1 and 5, to which shaft is a lever, b', Figs. 1 and 2. Raising this arm the cam l is brought under the chiscl-beam, and holds it up out of reach of the cam.

In cutting a file it is necessary to vary the angle at which the chisel strikes the shape according to the description of tile wanted. I accomplish this by changing the angle of the block D in the slots D2, tightening it in the required position by the setscrew D3, Fig. 2. The lengthening or shortening-of the chiselbar consequent upon the change in the angle is effected by the screws D4, Figs. 1,2, 3, and

5, in a way well known to mechanics.

In adjusting the parts of the machine in proper relations to each other, the middle of `the edge of the chisel ought to be on the eenter of the base of the anvil to insure a proper iirmness and resistance. If the chisel has this relation, and it is desired to make the chisel strike the shape at a more acute an gie, and the position of the block D is changed accordingly, the effect will he 'to advance the edge of the chisel, when the middle of its edge will cease to be on the center of the bise, and the machine will be ill-adjusted to that extent. 'lo obviate this diiiiculty and to secuie at all times a proper adjustment, it is necessary to canse the chisel-frame to advance toward or to recede from the anvil, which I accomplish in the following manner:

By referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 3, it will be observed that the lower member, e fv, of the chiselframe R is attached to the anvil frame through the bars Y Y, which a-re bolted to the anvil-frame by the bolts 20 20, and that the chisel-frame can accordingly be slid along the bar Y, to which it is secured by the bolts W WV, which pass through oblong holes in Y Y. lVhen, therefore, by increasing the angle of the chisel, it becomes necessary to move it back, that the middle of its edge may be on the center of the base ot' the anvil, the bolts w w are loosened and the chisel-frame pushed back the proper distance, the bolts are tightened, and the bevelwheel P2 is set back on its shaft, so as to engage properly with P.

I now proceed to describe the manner by which I make the shape regulate the force of the cut, so that the cuts shall be of the same depth whatever the width of the file.

The regulator Y is an arm inserted in the shaft h, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, suitably strengthened to receive it, as shown at 7L andj', Fig. 5. One end of the regulator, which is bent there with an opening for the chisel to pass through, rests when the machine is in motion on the shape.

m z', Fig. 2, is a bent lever pivoted at mf, the upper arm of which is connected with a concentric on the camshaft I, Fig. 5, as shown at n n, Fig. 5, while the lower arm, z', is in contact with an arm, z, projecting at right angles from the shaft h, Figs. 1,3, and 5.

If the regulator Y is raised in the direction of the dotted arc, Fig. 5, the arm z is dei ressed, both Y and z being attached to the shaft h. z' being depressed, the other arm of the bent lever z m is moved in the direction of the dotted arc at n, Fig. 2, and the conical cam on the main shaft is carried in the same direction against the resistance of the spiral spring I', Fig. 4... Now, the lip of the regulator Y, resting on the shape, as this last increases in thickness the lip is raised and the conical cam is moved along the main shaft, bringing a larger diameter under the chisel. beam, raising this higher in proportion, and so increasing the action of the main spring and the force of the blow of the chisel on the shape, and the thickness of the shape being always in proportion to its breadth, the broadest part of it receives the heaviest blow, which is the result aimed at. But the regulator has another important function. It secures a perfect resistance to every stroke of the chisel. As we have already seen, the bed-piece u, Fig. 5, on which the shape is placed to be cut, is dat in both directions while the face of the shape is rounding, as shown atm', Fig. 5; and we have seen, too, that the surfaces of the bed-piece and shape are in contact at m', Fig. 5, being kept so when the shape is first laid on the bed-piece by the springs already dcscribed. To keep the part of the shape about to receive the blow of the chisel in contact with the bed-piece, so as to secure a solid resistance to the blow, I use the spring w,Fig. 1', attached at one end to a prolongation bevond the frame of the shaft h, Fig. l, and at the other end catching in the ratchet V, Fig. 2. Raising the spring w on the teeth of the ratchet the lip of the regulator is pressed on the shape and adds its force to the spring nearest the end at which t-he cutis being made to keep the shape at that point firmlypiessed upon the anvil.

A lever attached to thc projecting end of the regulator-shaft enables the workman to raise the regulator from the shape, the lever being held up by the catch a, pivoted at a3, Fig. 1, where the lever is represented at a.

It will be seen that the edge of the chisel and the edge of the regulator are to be kept parallel to each other but as the chisel may not always be ground at right angles to its axis, but the edge of it may be ground at an angle, it becomes necessary to make an arrangement by which, notwithstanding, the necessary parallelism may be preserved between the edge of the chisel and the lip of the l regulator. For this purpose the regulator has on it a wheel partially cogged, f, inserted in the shaft lz, Fig. 5. rIhese cogs engage with the teeth of an endless screw on the bolt y',

Fig. 1, the head of which, g2, is square, to be i worked by a wrench when necessary. By turning the endless screw the cogs on the wheel on the regulator cause the latter to revolve, and the edge of the regulator is made parallel with the chisel.

The process of working the machine here described is as follows: The workman, seated in front of it, takes a shape and places it under the catch X. Then letting fall the catch W on the tang end and putting the pin o over the pin o2, Fig. 1, and adjusting the rest on the base of the anvil, so as to give the proper angle (having regard to the axis of the tile) to the cut, he loosens the clasps f f and moves the anvil proper back on the slides, so as to bring the shape under the chisel where the teeth are to commence. The regulator and the chisel are now both let down upon the shape. The clasps ff are brought together under the catch r, so as to clasp the endless screw, and the power is applied, when the different parts of the machine operate as already described, the pile continuing to be advanced until the catch r, being thrown oft by coming in contact with the hook q, the endless screw is unclasped. The workman at this time throws up the lever, which raises the chisel and regulator, the pile is taken out, and a fresh shape is put on the anvil proper.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the above-described machine, is-

l. The combination ofthe regulatorY with the movable conical cam, whereby the thickness of the shape is made to'regulate the force ot' the blow ot' the chisel.

2. The combination ot' the regulator aforesaid with the levers, through the action ot' which, as described in the specifications, the thickness of the shape is made to impart a lateral movement to the conical cam.

3. The arrangement of the devices whereby the shape is kept upon the anvil, as described, and the regulator is made to impart a' longitudinal rocking motion to the shape as it is moved forward under the chisel, so as to secure a perfect resistance to the blow 'of the latter, notwithstanding the swell ofthe shape and the tlatness ot' the anvil.

4. The combination of the saddle-shaped anvil proper, permitting the screw moving it to be placed beneath it, with the rest on which it slides, another clasp, f f, on the endless screw T. 'Y

5. The combination of the endless screw on bolt g, Fig. 4, and cog-wheel f, with the regulator, whereby the parallelism of the latti'r with the edge of the chisel may at all times be secured.

6. The combination of the chisel with the adjustable block D, arranged as described, whereby the tooth of the ile may be cut sharper or blunter, as required.

7. The arrangement of the chisel-frame with the anvil-frame in the manner herein described, by which their distance i'rom each other may be varied, as described.

JAMES JERVIS. Witnesses:

JOHN H. B. Ln'rnonn, Jos. W. BLAKE. 

